Convince me....

[86mud]

Hi All

I am at a cross road....do I rebuild my 3.5 v8 or install a 4dbt1?

I own a 1986 Range rover with 300,000kms on the V8 petrol original motor. The motor still runs strong, but I nned to do a clutch so it is time to consider my options.

Queensland Engine Recyclers sell the motors (new) for around $6600, but as I understand I need a special bell housing to match the gearbox, then there's the wiring harness, fuel tank, new engine mounts etc...plus as I keep hearing this motor is getting a bit old...

But..I do miss having a diesel. I have driven peugeot turbo diesels for years prior to buying my Rangie.

I normally hang around the Outerlimits forum, but I am after some advice on the 4dbt1 motor.

I have looked through rovercare's thread on his install...Unfortunately I don't have time to do the work myself, so I would need to pay for someone to install it...which could be very costly....

Cheers
Andrew

[C H T]

Andrew

The new 4BD1Ts from Qld Engine Recyclers are Chinese copies and are not worth thinking about. I put a 4BD1T into my Defender last year and have done almost 40000ks since and am extremely happy with it - a 4BD1T Rangie would be agreat car - I am thinking about doing one for myself. A4.6 Rover v8 would also be very nice - another option that I am considering for a Rangie. But for alround driveability and reliability the Isuzu option would be very hard to beat. Budget 12k for a DIY instalation and about 17-18k for a proffessional install. British Off Road did mine and I am very happy with the result (they now have the means to adapt R380s to the appropriate bellhousing). If you would like a drive in my Defender PM me your phone number and I would be happy to oblige - I am on the Sunshine Coast

Christopher

[isuzurover]

Best thing would be to see if you can get a drive in one, and see what you think.

Dranged is on the gold coast?

One of the owners of Haultech Engineering in Brissie has a rangie with a 4BD1T.

Plus there are about 5 guys on here in Brissie with diesel countys.


They are: Big, heavy, noisy, low tech, and some conversion bits are hard to find.

But they are also: incredibly torquey, very economical, and almost impossible to kill.

[FenianEel]

Gday Andrew,

Good to see back on aulro.

Mate...the 3.5 rebuild would be the quickest & easiest option no doubt.

A 4BD1T in that mutha of yours...oooh I've gotta go and lie down, that would be a serious weapon:D:banana::arms: (but an expensive operation)
If you have the play money to blow;), do it!!

[Rangier Rover]

What about a 300 TDi Disco conversion? Would sound like the peug did:wasntme: Buy a damaged Disco and swap it over. Then sell on whats left. I wouldn't spend to much on the 3.5. Tony

[SteveFitz]

There's a guy on LROCV site (www.lrocv.com.au)offering a 3.9 V8 "fan to flywheel" out of a smashed 97 Man disco with 114K on the clock - he wants $1000 and still running in car if you want to listen.

He's also offering box and transfer if needed.

Only problem is in Vic.

Regards,
Steve

[86mud]

Thanks for all your responses. I will give the boys at British Offraod a call for a chat.

Can anyone tell me the difference in weight between the 3.5 V8 and the isuzu?

Cheers

Andrew

[DRanged]

Mate if you are down the Tweed area you are more than welcome to take our rangie for a spin. It is an expensive exersise so you really need to work out what you want. If your keen on a diesel an International 2.8 might be the go. $11-12K but a much easier install. 5.3 stroker Rover V8 is another option. What do you want to do with it. Ours is built primarily for hard off road but it must still cruise well.

Justin 0400 880 869

[justinc]

I REALLY miss the 4.7 stroker I had in my RRC, but I DON'T miss the fuel bills and the lack of range.(550km from a 130litre tank:eek:)

The 4BD1 is a great engine IF YOU GET THE GEARING RIGHT.


I'm using standard 3.54 diffs, .996:1 high range in the 4spd LT95 box, and 33" tyres, gives me about 2200rpm at 100km/h.

I regularly see 25+mpg city driving, and nearly 27 to 28 mpg country/ hioghway. With the turbo and intercooler it is almost as torquey as the V8 too:twisted:

It does add some weight though, and some would argue (rightly so) that it is in the wrong place. an extra 180KG over the front wheeels isn't a good look, but it still handles fine as far as I'm concerned.

I would consider that 3.9V8 complete if I were you unless you want a diesel seachange. The Turbo 'suzi conversion will cost you 10K in the end if you do it properly:eek:(Includes intercooler and gearbox etc.)

JC

[dobbo]

Thanks for all your responses. I will give the boys at British Offraod a call for a chat.

Can anyone tell me the difference in weight between the 3.5 V8 and the isuzu?

Cheers

Andrew

From memory I think the dry weight of a 3.5 is around 170kg, around 210kg less than a 4BD1.

IMHO unless you could do a lot of the work yourself, it could be a very expensive exercise. Getting a 4BD1 out of a Landrover would cut some of the cost down, but not much. I'd only consider it if you intend to keep the Rangie for a very, very long time. Plus a completely rebuilt V8 running LPG could get similar if not slightly better running costs (taking into consideration the current difference between the cost of LPG and diesel).

[Dougal]

Anyone considered this for a gearbox option?

Gearbox's (http://www.rakeway.co.uk/gearbox%27s.htm)

[EchiDna]

I'd say putting my own predjudices (sp?) towards the 4BD1 aside, the cost difference between the V8 repair/swap and a conversion to a 4BD1 would be quite large, especially if paying someone to do the lot!! you could buy a hell of a lot of petrol (and/or gas) for the same money, thus your decision should be made on how long you expect to have the vehicle. If you have the cash burning a hole in your pocket, that's one thing, but if not, spreading the cost over years (via fuel bills) has to be preferential to spending a big chunk up front.

[isuzurover]

Anyone considered this for a gearbox option?

Gearbox's (http://www.rakeway.co.uk/gearbox%27s.htm)

They look very nice, but any idea about price???

[Dougal]

They look very nice, but any idea about price???

I have an idea they'll be hideously expensive.:)

[isuzurover]

I have an idea they'll be hideously expensive.:)

That's what I was thinking... What's a hollinger gearbox cost? $20k or so?

[rovercare]

I REALLY miss the 4.7 stroker I had in my RRC, but I DON'T miss the fuel bills and the lack of range.(550km from a 130litre tank:eek:)

The 4BD1 is a great engine IF YOU GET THE GEARING RIGHT.


I'm using standard 3.54 diffs, .996:1 high range in the 4spd LT95 box, and 33" tyres, gives me about 2200rpm at 100km/h.

I regularly see 25+mpg city driving, and nearly 27 to 28 mpg country/ hioghway. With the turbo and intercooler it is almost as torquey as the V8 too:twisted:

It does add some weight though, and some would argue (rightly so) that it is in the wrong place. an extra 180KG over the front wheeels isn't a good look, but it still handles fine as far as I'm concerned.

I would consider that 3.9V8 complete if I were you unless you want a diesel seachange. The Turbo 'suzi conversion will cost you 10K in the end if you do it properly:eek:(Includes intercooler and gearbox etc.)

JC

When did you put .996 gears in?, they're 1.13-7ish:p

[rovercare]

I have looked through rovercare's thread on his install...Unfortunately I don't have time to do the work myself, so I would need to pay for someone to install it...which could be very costly....

Cheers
Andrew

Shame your not local, I'd build it, $30/hr, only accepted payment is CASH but:D

[Taz]

I just heard that the army have extended there landrover end of life date to 2018. I guess this means that parts are still available (at least to the army - or they already have life of type sparing), and should be for some time, which is the issue that would worry me about the 4bd1t.

[rovercare]

I just heard that the army have extended there landrover end of life date to 2018. I guess this means that parts are still available (at least to the army - or they already have life of type sparing), and should be for some time, which is the issue that would worry me about the 4bd1t.

Whn you source parts from Isuzu direct, you get a lovely reassureing feeling, there is NO shortage of spare parts;)

[86mud]

Well....after a few days of serious deliberation, I have decided to go with a drop in rebuilt 3.9 and a set of 30% reduction crawler gears for the transfer.

I just need to tell the wife.....do you think she will understand if I tell her it is part of my father's day present from my kids?

Thanks to you all for your input and advice....

Cheers

Andrew